Javid told of HRT shortages ‘months ago’

SAJID JAVID was warned to cut red tape contributing to HRT shortages seven months ago but failed to act, a manufacturer has claimed.

Manufacturing and supply problems, as well as a surge in demand for hormone replacement therapy, have caused significant shortages of the drugs. Campaigners, MPS and manufacturers have said the shortages could be fixed in days if NHS bureaucracy was cut to allow GPS to prescribe alternative products.

Women face a “postcode lottery” of HRT products as a result of limited NHS formularies – medicine lists – which are determined at a local level.

Bijuve, manufactured by Theramex, is considered an alternative to Oestrogel, a product which has significant shortages, but it is only available in Oxford, Somerset and Norfolk.

Tina Backhouse, general manager at Theramex, said the Department of Health and Social Care was warned in October of the impending crisis.

“We did speak to the Department of Health about it, about how to [fix this issue in October]. But the problem was, all people wanted to talk about then was Covid,” she said. Her email to the department was ignored, she said.

Gynaecologists who have requested Bijuve is added to local lists have been told by clinical commissioning groups that “women’s health is not a priority for us”, she added.

The Department of Health and Social Care was approached for comment.